Mass vaccination clinic at GCC in Batavia starts Friday

Posted 4 March 2021 at 8:11 am

Site will administer 3,500 vaccines 5 days through Tuesday; Orleans residents urged to sign up

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

BATAVIA – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health have agreed to host a temporary regional mass vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College main campus center (1 College Rd, Batavia) to provide the Covid-19 vaccine to rural counties.

The announcement comes after the legislative leaders and public health directors of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties sent a letter last week to the Governor urgently requesting the designation of such a clinic to serve rural populations in the region.

“Orleans County has received lower vaccine allocations throughout the pandemic which has resulted in substantially lower vaccination rates here compared to other regions of New York,” said Lynne Johnson, chairperson of the Orleans County Legislature. “I am pleased our request for a GCC site was well received and hope to work cooperatively with our local partners and the state moving forward to facilitate more mass vaccine clinics for rural residents who have been largely underserved during the crisis.”

This state-run clinic, expecting to vaccinate 3,500, is targeted to Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County residents who are in the state eligible groupings. The state has confirmed, as of March 2, the vaccine will be the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) one dose vaccine. The clinic is located at the GCC Athletic Center where signs will guide those with appointments to the entrance. The clinic will be held starting:

  • Friday, March 5, from noon – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday (March 6th and 7th) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Monday and Tuesday (March 8th and 9th) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Appointments must be made via the New York State ‘Am-I-Eligible’ webpage (click here) or by calling the New York State Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-697-4829 only.

“We are pleased to be a part of this mass vaccination clinic,” stated Rebecca Ryan, Chairwoman of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors. “This will help put a dent in our priority groups.”

“To say this Covid vaccination site is necessary is an understatement, as I speak with constituents daily who are told they have to travel hours in some cases just to get their vaccine,” said New York State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. “I am hopeful we will see progress made toward opening this site for the convenience of all who wish to receive the vaccination in the Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County communities. We need to do all we can to stop the spread of Covid-19 throughout New York State.”

“I am very happy that GCC will be serving as a vaccination site for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. In the joint legislative health hearing this past Thursday, I specifically requested Commissioner Zucker establish a vaccination site at GCC,” said New York State Senator Edward Rath. “I am pleased that this all is happening very quickly, and we can work to get residents in our rural counties vaccinated. Thank you to our local leaders for their leadership on the issue.”

“We hope this is just the beginning of our region getting an equitable share of the vaccine,” stated Rochelle Stein, Chairperson of the Genesee County Legislature. “In order to continue to provide vaccine to those in rural counties, we encourage the state to continue to provide these limited mass vaccination clinics to assist our counties and get the vaccine in the arms of our residents who choose to get it.”